“I’m proud of what I got to do, but more importantly I’m so proud of who I got to do it with. I appreciate every single person that was along for the greatest ride of my life. A Canadian kid got to be a hockey player for 15 years. In the beautiful words of Gord Downie – I got to go, it’s been a pleasure doing business with you.” part of Dalpe’s statement said.
He later went on to add, “Thank you to all of my teammates, coaches, training staff and front offices.
To the coaches and GM’s along the way – thank you so much for believing in me and continuing to throw me over the boards: Jerry Flanagan, Fred Harbinson, John Markel, Jim Rutherford, Jeff Daniels, Kirk Muller, Ron Francis, Mike Gillies, John Tortorella, Tim Murray, Ted Nolan, Chad Cassidy, Chuck Fletcher, Mike Yeo, John Torchetti, Derek Lalonde, Bruce Boudreau, John Madden, Jarmo Kekalainen, Mike Eaves, Gregory Campbell and Bill Zito, Paul Maurice and Geordie Kinnear
Special thanks to the following organizations: Stratford Cullitons, Penticton Vees, The Ohio State University, Carolina Hurricanes, Vancouver Canucks and Utica Comets, Buffalo Sabres and Rochester Americans, Minnesota and Iowa Wild, Columbus Blue Jackets and Cleveland Monsters, Florida Panthers and Charlotte Checkers.”